COCCINELLIDAE - LADYBIRDS
Ladybirds have established a place in popular culture on account of their attractive colouration but not all members of the family look like stereotypical ladybirds. Though most species are brightly-coloured, some species are dull and are easily mistaken for other beetle families. Most ladybirds are predacious both in the larval and adult forms, with their favourite prey being aphids and scale bugs - both harmful pests - strengthening their reputation as the gardener´s friend. Their bright colouration is due to aposematism - it is a warning that they are unpalatable to predators but if this is ignored they are able to secrete strong-smelling haemolymph from their leg joints to repel molesters. Adults lay clusters of eggs, some of which are infertile but act as a food source for the newly hatched nymphs. The egg stage lasts approximately one week, with close to two weeks spent in the larval form. The entire life cycle of a ladybird is rarely more than 4 to 7 weeks.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
Thanks to Guillermo González and Carlos Aguilar Julio for their help with the identification of images in this gallery.
Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law. Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay. Photographs on this page were taken by Paul Smith, Chris Elder, Andres Contreras and Karina Diarte and are used with their permission.
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FIGURE 1 - Curinus coeruleus - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007).
FIGURE 2-3 - Cycloneda sanguinea. - Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith August 2007).
FIGURE 4 - Epilachna sp. probably cacica - Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith November 2007).
FIGURE 5 - Exoplectra ? sp. - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007).
FIGURE 6 - Harmonia axyridis. - Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith August 2007).
FIGURE 7 - Harmonia axyridis Mid-larval stage - Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith September 2007).
FIGURE 8 - Harmonia axyridis variation - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007).
FIGURE 9 - Mononeda sp. - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Chris Elder November 2007).
FIGURE 10 - Olla v-nigrum. - Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith January 2008).
FIGURE 11 - Pristonema ? sp. - Hotel Tirol, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith September 2007).
FIGURE 12 - Coleomegilla maculata - location unknown (Karina Diarte Photography).
FIGURE 13 - Eriopis conexa - Pilar, Departamento Ñeembucú (Andres Contreras undated).